Console with paper support for multiple communications printers



B. HOWARD ETAL 3,006,985 CONSOLE WITH PAPER SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS PRINTERS Oct. 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1959 INVENTORFJ 652N420 Hon 420 Tia. 1. EAAPH M. H/ESCH BY 7 2 M ATTORNEYS Oct. 31,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 @W T 21 [@Q INVENTOR 552M420 Hon/A20 EAL/ H M. H/escH BY M ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 B. HOWARD ET AL 3,006,985

CONSOLE WITH PAPER SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS PRINTERS Filed July 50, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 556M420 Hon 420 RALPH M. ///E$CH ATTORNEYS Get. 31, 1961 B. CONSOLE WITH PAPER SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE Filed July so, 1959 HOWARD ET AL COMMUNICATIONS PRINTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BEEN/12D 1 /01 144 R0 ZALPH M mesa/4 BY 4H4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,006,985 CONSOLE WITH PAPER SUPPORT FOR MUL- TIPLE COMMUNICATIONS PRINTERS Bernard Howard, Ramsey, and Ralph M. Hirsch, Westwood, N.J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Mite Corporation, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 30, 1959, Ser. No. 830,485 13 Claims. (Cl. 178-1) This invention relates to telegraph printers, and more especially to a paper support for such printers, particularly when used in multiple in a monitoring console.

An individual telegraph printer may be supplied with a continuous sheet of paper from a supply roll, and the printed paper may be led to either a bin or a take-up roll. One object of the present invention is to provide a paper support which supports and displays a substantial area of the paper leaving the printer, so that an observer may read the recently printed copy.

The invention is of particular importance in connection with a so-called monitoring console which may carry a substantial number of printers simultaneously receiving messages over different circuits from different parts of the world. An object of the present invention is to expose a maximum area of printed copy from each of the printers without increasing the overall height of the assembly or console. This is done without concealing the bottom line being printed by the next higher printer, so that there is no delay in seeing any message as it is being transcribed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide easy access to the different printers for replacement of a paper supply roll, and removal of a printed roll, or for repair or replacement of the printer itself.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in the printer or console assembly and paper support elements and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a console carrying five printers and a keyboard, with the side of the console removed to expose the printers therein;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the upper part of the console;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the console drawn to smaller scale, and showing the keyboard and a work shelf pulled forward;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the console;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, looking from the right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4, of a modified form of paper support, drawn to enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is an opposite side elevation; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the modified paper support, taken in the plane of the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the printers are located compactly one above the other, but with each printer preferably located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer. Thus the printer 14 is back of the point 28 where the paper 30 rises from the printer 16, and similar remark applies to the other printers. Each printer has a generally upright paper support 32, this being mounted above its printer and serving to support the recently printed copy for an appreciable height in front of the next higher printer. In practice the paper support preferably rises to the height of the printing point of the next higher printer. It may be slightly higher but preferably not enough to conceal even the lowest line of 3,006,985 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 printing, so that a message of immediate interest may be read as it is being printed.

The paper supports are preferably pivoted at their lower ends, as indicated at 34, so that they can turn forward from their generally upright to a generally horizontal position. This is indicated at the printer 18 by the broken line showing at 32' where the support has been turned down from the generally upright position shown in solid lines to the generally horizontal position shown in broken lines.

In the console of FIG. 1, each printer has a paper supply roll 36 which is located immediately behind the printer. The used or printed paper could be dropped loosely into the large available space at the bottom of the console, but in the present equipment the used paper is wound on take-up rolls indicated at 38, these being driven by small individual take-up motors one of which is indicated at 39 in FIG. 2. They are coupled through friction or slip connections, as is well known. In FIG. 2 the other motors are concealed by the printers.

The route of the paper is shown in printer 22 in FIG. 1, it running from paper roll 36 through the top of the printer at 40 and thence downward at 41 and around paper feed roll 42 and thence upward between a type cylinder 44 and a print hammer 46. The ink ribbon is not shown but is located between the hammer and the paper. The printed paper then rises to display the recent messages over the area 50, following which the paper turns rearwardly and downwardly on a preferably freely rotatable guide roller 52 at the upper end of the paper support 32. The paper then runs downward to another guide roller 54 which brings the paper below the bottom of the superjacent shelf and printer. The paper then runs rearwardly at 56 to guide roller 58 and thence down to the take-up roll 38. The guide 58 provides clearance between printed paper 56 and the roll 36.

With this arrangement there is no significant lengthwise displacement of the paper when turning the paper support from its up to its down position, and when the support is turned to down position the superjacent printer may be slid forward out of the console for servicing or replacement. The term servicing applies to re placement of the paper supply roll, and/or removal of the take-up roll, as well as actual repair of the printer. A spare printer may be slid into the vacant space while the removed printer is undergoing repair.

The movement of the printer may take place relative to its supporting shelf, or as here illustrated, the printer and its associated paper rolls may be fixedly secured on the shelf and the entire shelf may be slidable relative to the console. In FIG. 2 the side edges of the shelf 64 are slidable in tracks or ways 66 which are permanently secured to the side walls of the console.

The electrical connections to the printer are preferably made through detachable multiple pin connectors. For thispur-pose a slack or coiled cable 59 (FIG. 1) is provided for both power and signals, and leads to one half 60' of a connector, the other half of which is rigidly secured to the side of the console. In the present case another connector is provided at 61, 62 between the shelf and the printer. These parts are in alignment so that they are engaged by simply pushing the printer rearwardly when attaching it to the shelf.

The effective and relatively large area display obtained by'means of the present invention will be clear from inspection of FIG. 2, in which it will be seen that the message received on printer 22 is displayed all the way up to the lowest line of the message being displayed above the printer 20. The latter extends all the way up to the lowest line of the message being displayed by printer 18, and so on.

A slightly modified form of paper support may be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing, which have been drawn to larger scale. In FIG. 7 it will be seen that the paper support comprises side arms 70 and 72 which are spaced apart yet rigidly joined by tubular spacers 74 and 76 at the upper and lower ends of the side arms. For this purpose, the tubular spacers are cut to reduced diameter at their ends in order to form shoulders; the side arms have holes to receive the reduced ends and are moved in to the shoulders; following which the projecting ends are spun or riveted outward as shown at 78.

Freely rotatable rollers 80 and 82 are preferably carried on the spacers 74 and 76, thereby minimizing friction between the paper and the paper support. These are slid into position before riveting the ends 78.

In this form of the invention, the lower spacer 76 may act also as the pivot for movement of the paper support between its up and its down position. For this purpose, it is rotatably carried in brackets 84 and 86, which in turn are secured to the top of the printer. The bracket 84 is a simple angle bracket, as will be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The bracket 86 is somewhat more complex because it is arranged to carry both an over-the-center spring and an adjustable stop screw.

Refer-ring to FIG. of the drawing, which looks toward the right end of FIG. 7, the bracket 86 has an outwardly projecting ear 88 to which the lower end of a pull spring 90 is hooked. The upper end of pull spring 90 is hooked on an car 92 which is preferably formed integrally with and extends outward from the arm 72.

The location of these parts will be clear from inspection of FIG. 7, but FIG. 5 is significant in showing the over-the-center action. The paper support may be turned from the generally upright position shown in solid lines at 72, to the generally horizontal or down position shown in broken lines at 72'. This motion changes the position of the spring from the solid line position 90 to the broken line position 90'. The solid line position 90 is above the pivot. Thus, the line of force is such that when the paper support is turned up it tends to remain up, and when it is turned down it tends to remain down.

Its motion is limited in both directions. In the up position, the paper support is stopped by a stop 94 bearing against a stop surface 96. The latter is an ear formed integrally with and turned in from the side arm 72. The position of the paper support may be adjusted because the stop 94 is preferably a threaded screw with a lock nut. The adjustment may be made such as to just clear the next higher printer, with some clearance therebetween, as indicated at 98 in FIG. 5, or it may be adjusted downward for best viewing of each printer when seated. The down position of the paper support is limited by engagement with the top surface 100 (FIG. 5) of the printer on which the paper support is mounted.

An advantage of the paper support shown in FIGS. 5 7 is that there is little or no change in length of paper when turning the paper support from its up to its down position. This is so because the paper support turns directly about the axis of the lower paper guide roller.

An over-the-center spring arrangement also is employed in FIG. 1, the pull spring being shown at 102. Here again the downward motion of the paper support is limited by the top surface of the printer itself. The upward motion of the paper support could be limited by the forward bottom corner of the next higher printer or/and shelf, as will be seen from inspection of the drawing. In the case of the uppermost printer 14 a special stop must be provided, and for this purpose the lower end of the side arms of the paper support are extended as indicated at 104. Such stop extensions preferably are used on all of the paper supports to keep them alike, and to fix the upper position even when the next higher printer is removed from the console and not laced.

The transmitter 24 has a keyboard, and may be connected for transmission into any one of the five circuits. The keyboard may be slid back into the console when not in use, as shown in FIG. 1, and may be slid out of the console far enough to fully expose the keyboard, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is in use. The console may be provided with a work table 110, which may be slid in or out of the console as needed.

Referring to FIG. 2, the six toggle switches shown at 112 at the left of the transmitter are power supply switches for the five printers and the keyboard, so that power may be supplied independently to any or all of the six units. At the right of the keyboard there are six pushbutton switches marked 114. These are of the interlocked type so that only one can be pushed in at a time. Such switch assemblies in which depression of one button automatically releases and raises the other buttons, are well known. In the present case, five of the pushbuttons correspond to the five circuits, and serve to connect the transmitter to any one of the circuits. The sixth pushbutton is an ofi button in which the transmitter is not used.

The particular console here shown is 20" wide, 30" deep and 72" high. It is mounted on wheels for easy movement. The storage space beneath the transmitter has doors and may be used to carry a spare printer and a supply of paper rolls. Doors may be provided at the back of the upper part of the console for easy access for servicing. Although there are five printers, five inches of copy are exposed at each printer. A person only 5'4" tall may easily read all of the copy on the five printers. If it be desired to read more of the copy at a single printer, the sheet is readily drawn forward from the takeup roll, because the roll drive is only frictional.

It is believed that the construction and method of use .of our improved paper support for multiple printers or for a monitoring console, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while we have shown and described the invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown, without departing from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims. In the claims, the reference to supporting the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, may include an allowance for the somewhat downward line-of-sight of the observer, so that the line being printed on one unit may be seen, even though the paper support of the next lower unit may measure a little higher if referred to a true horizontal.

We claim:

1. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other, and a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy in front of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves.

2. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other, a generally upright paper support above each printer for supporting the printed copy in front of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement.

3. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other, a generally upright paper support above each printer for supporting the printed copy in front of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement, and an over-thecerrter spring for holding said paper support in either up or down position.

4. .A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other, a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer and then rearward, said support serving to dis play the printed copy in front of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement, said paper support comprising upright side arms spaced apart an amount greater than the width of the paper, spacers connecting said arms near their upper and lower ends, and freely rotatable tubular rollers on said spacers acting as paper guide rollers, the lower roller serving to guide the paper rearwardly.

5. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, a paper supply roll and a paper take-up roll located behind each printer, said printers being located compactly one above the other, a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer and then rearward, said support serving to display the printed copy in front of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement, and an over-the-center spring for holding said paper support in either up or down position, said paper support comprising upright side arms spaced apart an amount greater than the width of the paper, spacers connecting said arms near their upper and lower ends, and freely rotatable tubular rollers on said spacers acting as paper guide rollers, the lower roller serving to guide the paper rearwardly to the takeup roll.

6. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other but with each printer being located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer, and a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves.

7. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other but with each printer being located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer, and a generally upright paper support :above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement.

8. A monitoring console carrying -a plurality of printers receiving communications, a paper stipply roll and a paper take-up roll located behind each printer, said printers being located compactly one above the other but with each printer being located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer, and a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximately the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement.

9. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, said printers being located compactly one above the other but with each printer being located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer, a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally up right to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement, said printers and said console having mating detachable multiple pin connectors at the rear of each printer.

10. A monitoring console carrying a plurality of printers receiving communications, a paper supply roll and a paper take-up roll located behind each printer, said printers being located compactly one above the other but with each printer being located somewhat further back than its subjacent printer enough to clear the point at which the printed paper rises from the subjacent printer, a generally upright paper support above each printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer and then rearward, said sup port serving to display the printed copy to about the height of the printing point of the next higher printer, whereby the printed copy from all of the printers is simultaneously separately displayed over a total height approximating the total height used for the printers themselves, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn forward from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position to facilitate forward sliding of the next higher printer for servicing or replacement, and an over-the-center spring for holding said paper support in either up or down position, said paper support comprising upright side arms spaced apart an amount greater than the width of the paper, spacers connecting said arms near their upper and lower ends, and freely rotatable tubular rollers on said spacers acting as paper guide rollers, the lower roller serving to guide the paper rearwardly to the takeup roll.

11. A communications printer, and a generally upright paper support above the printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to ,guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position.

12. A communications printer, a paper supply roll and a paper take-up roll located behind the printer, a generally upright paper support above the printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer, said support serving to display the printed copy, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position, and an over-the-center spring 8 for holding said paper support in either up or down position.

13. A communications printer, a paper supply roll and a paper take-up roll located behind the printer, a generally upright paper support above the printer at the forward end thereof, said support serving to guide the paper upward and then rearwardly reversely downward toward the top of the printer and then rearward, said support serving to display the printed copy, said paper support being pivoted at its lower end to turn from its generally upright to a generally horizontal position, and an over-the-center spring for holding said paper support in either up or down position, said paper support comprising upright side arms spaced apart an amount greater than the width of the paper, spacers connecting said arms near their upper and lower ends, and freely rotatable tubular rollers on said spacers acting as paper guide rollers, the lower roller serving to guide the paper rearwardly to the takeup roll. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson Mar. 17, 1959 

